Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the salary range for Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency-employed heavy vehicle testers who undertake tests at authorised testing facilities; and what travel allowances are available to them.

Vehicle Standards Assessors (VSA) conduct heavy goods vehicle (HGV) tests at Authorised Testing Facilities (ATF).

The basic annual salary for a VSA is £21,167 plus a technical recruitment allowance of £2,590 per annum. In addition, they receive one of two payments dependent on their committed availability to be scheduled for testing as follows:

• Option A:

  An annual payment of £2,400 for being scheduled between 06:00 – 22:00 Monday to Friday and 06:00 – 18:00 Saturday

• Option B:

An annual payment of £3,500 for being scheduled in line with Option A above plus:

• 06:00 – 18:00 Sunday

• 06:00 – 18:00 Bank Holiday

• 22:00 – 06:00 Monday – Friday

• 18:00 – 06:00 Saturday – Sunday & Bank Holidays

  This means the financial package available to VSAs is between £26,157 and £27,257. This is subject to normal Civil Service pay review which, following TU negotiation, is effective from 1 October annually.

  VSAs may have a lease car provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and can claim work relate mileage at the rate set by HMRC: currently this is 8p or 9p mile dependent on engine size. DVSA employees who use their own car for work purposes can claim either 25p or 35p per mile depending on the length of employment.